Central Banking
BNB's Coene says ECB more likely to raise than cut
Belgian National Bank deputy governor Luc Coene said in an interview published Thursday 29 March that ongoing inflation risks in the eurozone mean that interest rates are more likely to rise than to fall.
Sovereign wealth funds 'set to grow rapidly'
The first in-depth investigation into Sovereign Wealth Management, published Thursday 29 March, estimates excess reserves currently held by central banks in emerging market economies at between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion, and suggests that this number…
Sweden's Srejber to step down
Eva Srejber, first deputy governor of the Swedish central bank, announced Thursday 29 March she was stepping down to join the EIB.
Central banks can't break gold link
According to this article published by Miningmx this week, gold holdings by central banks have declined to their lowest level in 60 years.
RBA appoints new deputy governor
The Reserve Bank of Australia announced Wednesday 28 March the appointment of Dr Guy Debelle as assistant governor for financial markets.
Paper: The Eurosystem, Fed and Bank of Japan
The ECB Working Paper "The Eurosystem, the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan: similarities and differences" provides a systematic comparison of the Eurosystem, the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.
Fed's Braunstein on subprime mortgages
In the speech 'Subprime mortgages' given on 27 March Sandra Braunstein of the Federal Reserve said the Federal Reserve has "great concern" about the surge in mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures.
Yilmaz on the economic outlook for Turkey
In the speech 'Economic outlook for Turkey' given on 11 January (published 23 March) Durmus Yilmaz of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey said as a result of the process of structural change and the progress obtained in macroeconomic conditions in…
NBP's Rybinski on the payment system in Poland
In the speech 'SEPA and the payment system in Poland' given on 14 March Krzysztof Rybinski of the National Bank of Poland said an aspect which deserves particular attention in the discussion on SEPA is the harmonisation of the law within the payment area.
BOT's Watanagase on the Thai economy
In the speech 'The prospects of the Thai economy and monetary policy' given on 16 March Tarisa Watanagase of the Bank of Thailand said the Bank of Thailand has played an important role in strengthening the financial infrastructure following the…
Fed's Bernanke on the economic outlook
In testimony "The economic outlook" given on 28 March Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said growing troubles in the market for risky mortgages thus far don't appear to be spreading to the overall economy but the situation bears close watching.
Mboweni says RBZ can't be blamed for economy
South African Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni said on Tuesday 27 March that Zimbabwe's central bank can do little to curb rampant inflation as the causes are largely political.
Report says BOT asks lenders to adjust FX
Bank of Thailand has asked some commercial banks in the country to adjust their foreign-exchange positions back to where they were at the end of last year in an effort to curb the baht's appreciation, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday 28 March.
IMF report says ECB has room for hikes - FT
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the European Central Bank (ECB) has more room for further interest rate increases if eurozone growth improves further, the Financial Times said Wednesday 28 March, citing a draft copy of the IMF World Economic…
Gonzalez-Paramo: Inflation risks still on upside
European Central Bank board member Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo said Wednesday 28 March the eurozone still faces significant inflation risks.
Putting Bernanke's testimony in perspective
According to this article from MarketWatch, published Wednesday 28 March, the Federal Reserve's announcement last week that it was adopting a neutral bias on interest rate policy could turn out to be a fairytale that doesn't come true.
BoE's Gieve on the City's growth
In the speech 'The City's growth: The crest of a wave or swimming with the stream' given on 26 March John Gieve of the Bank of England said the City of London looks set to consolidate its position as a top financial centre as the gap between the US and…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, February 2007
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for February 2007, published 26 March, was +0.03 in February, up from -0.72 in January.
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, February 2007
The Deutsche Bundesbank published the English version of its February 2007 Monthly Report on Tuesday 27 March. The report said German economic growth may soon pick up steam again after a slight and temporary disruption caused by government fiscal…
Perhaps the FOMC did what it said it did
The Bank of Canada Working Paper "Perhaps the FOMC did what it said it did: An alternative interpretation of the great inflation" uses real-time briefing forecasts prepared for the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to provide estimates of historical…
NY Fed's Geithner on credit markets innovations
In the speech 'Credit markets innovations and their implications' given on 23 March Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said turbulence in the U.S. market for high-risk mortgages is not likely to have a long-lasting effect on broader…
Has the dollar met its date with destiny?
According to this article from MoneyWeek, published Monday 26 March, the dollars steady decline on the foreign exchange markets seems certain to gather momentum.
BoE's King on the inflation outlook
In opening remarks at an appearance before the parliamentary Treasury Select Committee, Bank of England governor Mervyn King said further volatility in inflation is likely in the coming months as retail gas and electricity prices fall.
Fukui says natural unemployment rate unknown
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Tuesday 27 March that a natural rate of unemployment that would not trigger steep inflation in Japan has not yet been accurately estimated.